Charles Stanley – Experiencing God’s Faithfulness

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

What is the secret to enjoying the Lord’s best for your life? Whole-hearted obedience. Let’s study the story of Abraham to explore the rewards of following God’s voice and the consequences of disobedience.

Note: Abraham and Sarah are first introduced in Scripture as Abram and Sarai. God changed their names when He made a special covenant with them, which is described in Genesis 17. For simplicity, this Bible study uses the names “Abraham” and “Sarah.”

When God asks us to obey, He doesn’t always reveal the details. Read Genesis 12:1-3. Where did the Lord tell Abraham to go?

What enabled him to take such a risk? (Hebrews 11:8-9)
What is the definition of faith, according to Hebrews 11:1?

Hebrews 11:6 says “he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

What did the Lord promise Abraham? (Genesis 12:2-3)
Has your heavenly Father ever asked you to do something that seemed illogical to you at the time? If so, what did your experience teach you?

God’s guidance will not contradict His ways or His Word. Read Genesis 12:10-20.

What did Abraham do instead of trusting the Lord to take care of him? (Genesis 12:13)

Although the patriarch did not have the Bible or even the Ten Commandments, he knew his action was wrong.

In what area of your life are you currently tempted to disobey God instead of trusting Him? Explain your temptation.
What do you think God would have you do instead of trying to solve the problem using your own effort or reasoning?

When we disobey, other people suffer. In Genesis 15:4, God promises Abraham a son, not just an heir. But years later, Sarah is still childless.
God often gives us a second chance to obey. Some opportunities come only once in a lifetime. Once we miss them, they are gone forever. But many times, our gracious Father offers us another chance.
The Lord may ask us to surrender the dreams and plans He gives us. Read the story of the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22:1-14.

What did she suggest to Abraham? (Genesis 16:2)
What were some of the negative consequences of his action? (Genesis 16:4-6; 11-12)
When you live for yourself instead of seeking to follow God, how are those around you negatively affected?

What did Abraham do with his second chance in Genesis 20:1-13?
What three reasons does he give for using deception?
How are his excuses similar to the excuses we might use to justify sin?
Is God giving you a second chance? What is He asking you to do?

Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? (Genesis 22:12)

We can begin to value God-given possessions, relationships, dreams, or even ministry more than we treasure our relationship with Him. This is a form of idolatry.

What are the warning signs that a God-given gift has become too important?
Is God asking you to release an idol to Him so that He has your whole-hearted devotion? You may need to give it up literally or just surrender control of it in your heart. Write a prayer expressing your feelings and yielding to the lordship of Christ.

The rewards of obedience can last for generations. Because Abraham obeyed God, he became the father of the people of Israel. Years later, his descendants gave birth to the Messiah, through whom the entire world was blessed (Genesis 17: 4-8; Genesis 22:18).

How would you like to be remembered by your children and grandchildren (or by the next generation)?
What can you do in this next year to be one step closer to making that kind of impact on your world?

Closing: Like Abraham, you may impact the lives of those whom you never meet. Be obedient to God’s request, even if it doesn’t make sense from a worldly point of view. Perhaps the sacrifices you make today for Christ’s sake will bless others for generations to come.

Prayer: Father, I’m so grateful that You have a purpose and a plan for my life. Please reveal Your will to me and empower me to obey it willingly and faithfully. Increase my faith that I may be a blessing to the world around me for Your sake and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources

Our Daily Bread — The Ultimate Sacrifice

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

1 John 3:16-23

By this we know love, because [Jesus] laid down His life for us. —1 John 3:16

When Deng Jinjie saw people struggling in the water of the Sunshui River in the Hunan province of China, he didn’t just walk by. In an act of heroism, he jumped into the water and helped save four members of a family. Unfortunately, the family left the area while he was still in the water. Sadly, Jinjie, exhausted from his rescue efforts, was overwhelmed and swept away by the river current and drowned.

When we were drowning in our sin, Jesus Christ gave His life to come to our aid. We were the ones He came to rescue. He came down from heaven above and pulled us to safety. He did this by taking the punishment for all of our wrongdoing as He died on the cross (1 Peter 2:24) and 3 days later was resurrected. The Bible says, “By this we know love, because [Jesus] laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). Jesus’ sacrificial love for us now inspires us to show genuine love “in deed and in truth” (v.18) to others with whom we have relationships.

If we overlook Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, we’ll fail to see and experience His love. Today, consider the connection between His sacrifice and His love for you. He has come for your rescue. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Rescued: By Jesus’ love;

Rescued: For life above;

Rescued: To serve my King;

Rescued: My praise to bring. —Verway

Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us.

Bible in a year: Psalms 132-134; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Insight

John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7) and to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mother, Mary (19:26-27), was well qualified to write about love. In 1 John 2, he described the quality and authenticity of the love expected of the children of God. Here in 1 John 3, he pointed to the death of Christ and directed us to Him as our standard of Christian love (v.16). True Christian love is sacrificial action and selfless generosity displayed both in speech and in actions (vv.16-18).

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Walking in Light

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light… 1 John 1:7

“As he is in the light”! Can we ever attain to this? Will we ever be able to walk as clearly in the light as He is whom we call “Our Father,” of whom it is written, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (verse 5)? Certainly this is the model that is set before us, for the Savior Himself said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”;1 and although we may feel that we can never rival the perfection of God, yet we are to seek after it and not be satisfied until we attain to it. The youthful artist as he grasps his newly sharpened pencil can hardly hope to equal Raphael or Michelangelo; but still, if he did not have a noble ideal before his mind, he would only attain to something very mean and ordinary.

But what is meant by the expression that the Christian is to walk in light as God is in the light? We conceive it to convey likeness but not degree. We are as truly in the light, we are as heartily in the light, we are as sincerely in the light, as honestly in the light, although we cannot be there in the same measure. I cannot dwell in the sun—it is too bright a place for my residence, but I can walk in the light of the sun; and so, though I cannot attain to that perfection of purity and truth that belongs to the Lord of hosts by nature as the infinitely good, yet I can set the Lord always before me and strive, by the help of the indwelling Spirit, to conform to His image.

The famous old commentator John Trapp says, “We may be in the light as God is in the light for quality, but not for equality.” We are to have the same light and are as truly to have it and walk in it as God does, though as for equality with God in His holiness and purity, that must be left until we cross the Jordan and enter into the perfection of the Most High. Notice how the blessings of sacred fellowship and perfect cleansing are bound up with walking in the light.

1) Matthew 5:48

________________________________________

The family reading plan for August 31, 2014 * Ezekiel 3* Psalm 39

________________________________________

Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon – Christ in the covenant

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

“I will give thee for a covenant of the people.” Isaiah 49:8

Suggested Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23

When tempted to sin, reply, “I cannot do this great wickedness. I cannot, for I am one of Christ’s.” When wealth is before you to be won by sin, touch it not; say that you are Christ’s else you would take it; but now you cannot. Tell Satan that you would not gain the world if you had to love Christ less. Are you exposed in the world to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are one of Christ’s. Are you in a field where much is to be done, and others are sitting down idly and lazily, doing nothing? Go at your work, and when the sweat stands upon your brow and you are bidden to stay, say, “No, I cannot stop; I am one of Christ’s. He had a baptism to be baptised with, and so have I, and I am in bondage until it is accomplished. I am one of Christ’s. If I were not one of his, and purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am one of Christ’s.” When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, “Hush your strains, O temptress; I am one of Christ’s. Your music cannot affect me; I am not my own, I am bought with a price.” When the cause of God needs you, give yourself to it, for you are Christ’s. When the poor need you, give yourself away, for you are one of Christ’s. When, at any time there is anything to be done for his church and for his cross, do it, remembering that you are one of Christ’s. I beseech you, never belie your profession. Go not where others could say, “He cannot be Christ’s.”

For meditation: The Christian is doubly Christ’s one—by his choice to bear fruit (John 15:16) and by his purchase to glorify God in the body (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Are you giving him at present everything he paid for?

Sermon no. 103

31 August (1856)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Rejecting the World

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii 1 Comment

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

The world is opposed to everything God stands for.

Loving the world begins with thinking that God doesn’t know what’s best for you and is trying to cheat you out of something you deserve. That thought soon blossoms into a willingness to disregard God’s warnings altogether and take whatever Satan has to offer.

Love of the world started in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day. Genesis 3:6 says, “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” What made them think the fruit was good for food or able to make them wise? God didn’t tell them that. In fact, He warned them that they would die if they ate the fruit (Gen. 2:17). But Eve believed the serpent’s lie and Adam followed suit.

Satan continues to propagate his lies but you needn’t fall prey to them if you love God and remember that the world is opposed to everything He stands for. It is spiritually dead; void of the Spirit (John 14:17); morally defiled; and dominated by pride, greed, and evil desires. It produces wrong opinions, selfish aims, sinful pleasures, demoralizing influences, corrupt politics, empty honors, and fickle love.

You can’t love the world and God at the same time because love knows no rivals. It gives its object first place. If you love God, He will have first place in your life. If you love the world, the love of the Father isn’t in you (1 John 2:15).

Galatians 1:3-5 explains that Jesus says that “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore.” Christ died to deliver us from Satan’s evil system. What greater motivation could there be to reject the world and live to God’s glory?

Suggestions for Prayer; Ask God for greater wisdom and grace to resist the world’s influences.

For Further Study; According to Ephesians 6:10-18, how can you as a believer protect yourself against Satan’s evil system?

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Power Over Nations

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

“To everyone who overcomes – who to the very end keeps on doing things that please Me – I will give power over the nations. You will rule them with a rod of iron just as My Father gave Me the authority to rule them; they will be shattered like a pot of clay that is broken into tiny pieces. And I will give you the Morning Star!” (Revelation 2:26-28).

I marvel at the numerous promises made to the overcomer, the one “who to the very end keeps on doing things that please Me.” Now we are even promised power over the nations, as we rule and reign with our heavenly Father in that coming day.

As I ponder this verse, I see in a very few words the key to the entire Christian life – the one thing alone that will keep us victorious today, tomorrow, and throughout our lives. Again, it is that significant clause: “who to the very end keeps on doing things that please Me.”

Lest you think that is an over simplification of the victorious Christian life, can you think of anything else God requires of us? And He even provides His Holy Spirit as an indwelling reminder of the daily victory He makes possible. This is the supernatural life. Earlier, we are told of a conquering Christ who will rule the nations of the earth with a rod of iron. This promise tells us that Christ will turn this power over to the conqueror – the overcomer – and his victorious companions in death.

Bible Reading: Psalm 2:1-12

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will trust the Lord to make being an overcomer a reality for me as a way of life – by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Give the Gift of Freedom

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Then you recently turned and did what was right in My sight—every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. —Jeremiah 34:15, NKJV

Have you ever experienced the wonderful feeling of being set free from something? Maybe someone has paid a debt for you or a boss has said, “Never mind. I don’t need you to do that after all.” If you have ever been dominated by another individual and you were set free, you know how wonderful freedom is. Whether it happens on a large scale or a small scale, being set free from an obligation or a burden is a great feeling.

In today’s scripture, the Bible says we can “proclaim liberty” to others. I encourage you to give the gift of freedom to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers whenever possible. People will love you for it. Obviously, this does not mean letting others do whatever they want to do. But it does mean that you stop trying to control people and situations.

For years I tried desperately to control and remold my husband and children, until I finally realized that my efforts were acts of selfishness, not love. I told myself that I simply wanted God’s best for them; however, I had decided what His best was and was trying to force it on them.

At one point in my life, I wanted all my children to preach, just as I do. That did not happen, and, actually, I now realize that was not even what would have been best after all. God is in control, and I am glad.

Make sure the atmosphere in your home and your business is free and relaxed, not one that makes people feel that your relationship with them will be tense and disapproving if they do not please you all the time. When people make mistakes, do not make them feel rejected, but go the extra mile to make them feel forgiven, accepted—and free. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Love Others Today: Proclaim liberty, and give everyone around you the gift of freedom.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Worry-free Approach

August 31, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Nearly one in five Americans – 40 million adults – suffer from a reported anxiety disorder. From personal life issues to concerns over governmental affairs, according to the World Mental Health Survey, American’s are the most anxiety-riddled people in the world.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

Proverbs 31:21

Do you suffer from fear and worry? If so, you will identify with quite a few Bible characters who faced circumstances seemingly out of their control and beyond resolve. For example, young David was pursued by the most powerful man in his world, Saul the King. The apostle Paul was literally shipwrecked in the middle of his most important missionary journey. Both situations were genuinely life threatening!

Proverbs 31 describes a woman who is the opposite of an anxious soul. Her lack of fear and worry come from two basic and vital attributes: she did what she could with what she had, and then left what she could not control in the hands of God. As you intercede for America today, take a Proverbs 31 approach. Do all you absolutely can through prayer, then diligently prepare and take your peaceful rest in the providence of God’s care.

DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION

Daily Archives: August 31, 2014

Charles Stanley – Experiencing God’s Faithfulness

Our Daily Bread — The Ultimate Sacrifice

Alistair Begg – Walking in Light

Charles Spurgeon – Christ in the covenant

John MacArthur – Rejecting the World

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Power Over Nations

Joyce Meyer – Give the Gift of Freedom

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Worry-free Approach

Scriptures, Lessons, News and Links to help you survive.